# Are You Happy With Your State Bird **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 4, 2009, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664 "2009-06-04T05:15:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/41 "2009-06-04T16:09:48Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Don’t knock the loon! The best part is they’re all over the frickin’ place. I’m from California, and yes, the quail is stupid, but more importantly, has anyone ever seen a quail? Where do they all hang out? The range is [here](http://www.jesseshunting.com/images/quail_calvalley_range.gif). They’re not going to be haning out in the city or suburbs, though. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/42 "2009-06-04T16:14:51Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Don’t knock the loon! The best part is they’re all over the frickin’ place. I’m from California, and yes, the quail is stupid, but more importantly, has anyone ever seen a quail? Where do they all hang out? I grew up in Santa Barbara county and there are tons of quail there my parents typically have two coveys in their backyard and one in the front. When I moved to Bakersfield you couldn’t walk through any of the locations around town without scarring several of them. As far as I can tell they are every where outside of the cities. I even went turkey hunting east of Sacramento and didn’t see a damn turkey but lots of quail. They are by far the most common bird I see. ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/43 "2009-06-04T16:16:51Z")
I don’t mind the Mockingbird, altough there are much more common birds at least in this part of TX. Just glad it’s not the California Gull (UT). Besides the irony that land-locked Utah’s official bird contains CA’s name, it seems the majority of Utah’s seagulls are at the landfills. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/44 "2009-06-04T16:37:08Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I live in Illinois and I think the cardinal is a poor choice. I think I’ve seen maybe 10 cardinals in my entire life. I realize Illinois is big and maybe they all live downstate but everywhere in Illinois I see, blackbirds, robins, wrens, grackles and I even see more Canada Geese than cardinals. I live in the western suburbs of Chicago and each year a male cardinal claims our yard as part of his turf. Hearing him sing is the official herald of spring’s imminent return for my husband and I; in fact, this year my husband sent me a text when he was home for lunch and heard the familiar song outside. So I know I’m biased, but I think it’s a great state bird for Illinois. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/45 "2009-06-04T16:41:43Z")
Nevada’s is the Mountain Bluebird, which is a gorgeous little bird. I approve. My current home state though is Washington. Willow Goldfinches aren’t that special, in my opinion. Hawaii’s Nene is pretty darned neat! What a pity that not a single state has chosen a raptor. I’ve always thought the Golden Eagle was awesome, not to mention numerous other owls, falcons, ospreys, kites, and hawks. Why does almost every bird have to be a song bird? A really brave state should include something like the Condor (I’m looking at you CA, you wusses.) Alaska’s Willow Ptarmigan: gotta love a bird name with a silent P. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/46 "2009-06-04T16:41:53Z")
I suppose I shouldn’t have expected to see one in Los Angeles, where the only animal life consists of roaches and pigeons. But I did live in a cute little suburb in the SF Bay Area for three years where I frequently saw deer, rabbits and mean-spirited raccoons. I expected to see some damn quails! ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/47 "2009-06-04T16:49:15Z")
Indiana has the Cardinal, which I am fine with. My school was named after it (We were the Cardinals) and I have seen my fair share of them in both places I have lived. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/48 "2009-06-04T16:54:34Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I suppose I shouldn’t have expected to see one in Los Angeles, where the only animal life consists of roaches and pigeons. And agents. Oh, wait…you already said roaches… ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/49 "2009-06-04T16:56:26Z")
The cactus wren is alright, I guess, just going off its association with cactus, but I really think it should be the roadrunner. Or the elf owl. Or the golden eagle. Or the “California” condor (most of them live here now.) So many great ones to choose from. Or, what’s the one that goes _GUKguhgukguhguk–HOOooh_HOO\*, HOOooh_HOO_? Is that a quail? That should just win for being everywhere all the time. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/50 "2009-06-04T16:58:35Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Ruffed Grouse for the win! Unique among state birds (no other state has it) and tell me this isn’t [badass](http://i1.treknature.com/photos/1775/dscn0016.gelinote_huppe2.jpg)… I mean no other state has it as a state bird, not that it doesn’t live in other states. Just realized how that sounded… ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/51 "2009-06-04T17:06:12Z")
No, I’m not. Not at all. He knows why. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/52 "2009-06-04T17:09:31Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > … > Hawaii’s Nene is pretty darned neat! There is an abundance of endemic Hawaiian birds that are cooler than the Nene, IMHO, including the [Hawaiian Hawk or 'Io](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_Hawk). > [@](#): > > _What a pity that not a single state has chosen a raptor. I’ve always thought the Golden Eagle was awesome, not to mention numerous other owls, falcons, ospreys, kites, and hawks. Why does almost every bird have to be a song bird? A really brave state should include something like the Condor (I’m looking at you CA, you wusses.) > …_ Yeah, Quails are cute with the funny little crest bob, but the Condor would be a cooler choice. Birds of prey are awesome and can kick songbird asses both literally and figuratively. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/53 "2009-06-04T17:09:48Z")
I’m okay with Indiana’s cardinal. As birds go, its behavior is civilized. I like the way they come to a feeder as a pair, and one stands watch while the other eats. I see them in our backyard every day. Only one state has a state question, and you know who you are. The question is, “Red or green?” Just this year, Indiana declared the Sugar Cream Pie to be the State Pie. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/54 "2009-06-04T17:10:56Z")
“Eastern Goldfinch”? Yeah, right…anyone who’s ever been to Jersey knows what the state bird _really_ is. \ ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/55 "2009-06-04T17:15:57Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > But I did live in a cute little suburb in the SF Bay Area for three years where I frequently saw deer, rabbits and mean-spirited raccoons. I expected to see some damn quails! In the _old_ days, when I was a wee lad living in SF ( mid-1970’s ), they were quite common in Golden Gate Park. But feral cats and increasing urbanization has drastically reduced that local population - as of the mid-2000’s there were four adults of breeding age. Still to be found occasionally though - searching for numbers I found this guy’s [quail photos](http://mustap.smugmug.com/gallery/3841870_jN7uQ/1/222288736_RGK5X#222288736_RGK5X). Really a rather pretty bird. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/56 "2009-06-04T17:18:20Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > Just this year, Indiana declared the Sugar Cream Pie to be the State Pie. _Sugar_ Cream Pie? I am intrigued, as well as half prepared to be grossed out :p. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/57 "2009-06-04T17:28:53Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > There is an abundance of endemic Hawaiian birds that are cooler than the Nene, IMHO, including the [Hawaiian Hawk or 'Io](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_Hawk). Nah. The nene is much, much cooler. The 'Io is just another dun-colored raptor. Meh. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/58 "2009-06-04T17:31:50Z")
Montana is one of about fifteen states with the Western Meadowlark. Personally, though, I think it should be the magpie: Those are all over the place around here, and nobody else has claimed them. Eh, our state quarter wasn’t as original as it should have been, either. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/59 "2009-06-04T17:55:35Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > _Sugar_ Cream Pie? I am intrigued, as well as half prepared to be grossed out :p. > **[Sugar Cream Pie History and Recipe](https://whatscookingamerica.net/history/piehistory/sugarcreampie.htm)** > >  Sugar Cream Pie, Hoosier Sugar Cream Pie, Quebec Sugar Cream Pie, Tartes au sucre, or Finger Pie are all names for the same type of pie.   This pie consists of I’m not kidding. It’s similar to other custard pies, but different enough to be itself. [http://www.in.gov/portal/news\_events/35048.htm](http://www.in.gov/portal/news_events/35048.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664/60 "2009-06-04T18:12:05Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Here’s a list of [State Birds](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_birds). Are you happy with your state bird? Do you think it represents your state well? > > I live in Illinois and I think the cardinal is a poor choice. I think I’ve seen maybe 10 cardinals in my entire life. I realize Illinois is big and maybe they all live downstate but everywhere in Illinois I see, blackbirds, robins, wrens, grackles and I even see more Canada Geese than cardinals. > > (If you don’t live in the USA but your country has a “national bird,” like NZ has the Kiwi or Australia has the Emu. Feel free to substitute that bird for your “state bird.” Northwest surburban Illinois here. We get TONS of cardinals in our yard! I think they like sunflower seeds, if I’m not mistaken, but we never feed them. They just show up. They’re really quite beautiful, and they seem to like frolicking in my trees a lot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-with-your-state-bird/498664.md?page=4)